Birds offer visual, vocal treat outdoors in the Ozarks

Apr. 12, 2012

Written by

Francis Skalicky

FOR THE NEWS-LEADER

If you’re looking for a good reason to get your family — or yourself — outdoors, now is an excellent time to plan a birding trip.

You’re not a birder, you say? Doesn’t matter. Grab a bird book and a pair of binoculars, go outside and start looking and listening. In the spring, the bird world becomes very visual and vocal. Bird activities in spring bring a variety of sights and sounds into the Ozarks that can be enjoyed by birders of all skill levels.

One reason now is a good time is that spring is when bird color is at its peak. Cardinals, bluebirds and other species known for bright tones are displaying their showiest hues. Even birds on the drab end of the color spectrum may have brown or gray markings that, when viewed up close or through binoculars, show a much prettier side to these birds than is seen at other times of year.

The primary reason for these bright colors, which are seen in the males of most bird species, is they make the males more visual to females. Conversely, since females will be sitting on nests and rearing young (in most species), a drab coloring helps them blend in and avoid predators.

Bird song, which is also more common in males than females, is abundant in spring for a couple of reasons: One is that males are trying to get the females’ attention. Some bird “songs” are also the calls of males who are defending — or announcing — their territory to other males. Although bird song can be heard throughout the day, it’s heaviest in the morning.

Another advantage of spring birding is you may be fortunate enough to see a migrating species that isn’t a year-round resident here. Missouri is on the migration routes of many species and now is when many of them are passing through. If you make enough trips in the spring, chances are you’ll see something unusual.

Birding can be done in a variety of settings. You can start in your backyard or, if you live in the country, on the acres around your house. City parks, walking trails and other urban and suburban locations can also be excellent birding sites. Numerous Missouri Department of Conservation areas in the region provide great birding opportunities, but keep in mind that many are open to turkey hunting between Monday and May 6. Shooting hours are a half-hour before sunrise to 1 p.m. It would be wise to schedule spring birding trips around those dates and/or times or schedule trips to areas such as the Springfield Conservation Nature Center where hunting isn’t permitted.

Bird feeders can bring many species to your window. However, if your goal is to get out, feeder watching should serve merely as identification practice for the next birding trip.

As far as literature is concerned, there are several good field guides available. The MDC booklet “Enjoying Missouri Birds” is a free publication about the kinds of birds that can be seen in Missouri, the habitats they frequent and the best time of year to see them. The CD “Missouri Bird Calls,” which can be purchased at the Nature Center and at the MDC’s Southwest Regional Office in Springfield for $8, is another helpful tool. “Birds in Missouri” may be a little bulky to take in the field, but it’s a good resource to consult before heading out. It can be purchased at the department’s Southwest Regional Office Springfield Conservation Nature Center. Bird information can also be found at www.missouriconservation.org.

Francis Skalicky is the media specialist for the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Southwest Regional Office. For information about conservation issues, call 417-895-6880.